Lakeview Square Mall looks for local artists to create murals for the mall's empty walls

Lakeview Square Mall is hoping to draw in more visitors with a new collaboration with local artists.

The mall recently put a call out for local artists interested in producing a mural of wings somewhere in the mall. The idea is that visitors could take photographs in front of it.

"We thought it would be a good opportunity to connect with the community and connect with artists from the surrounding community as well," said Brittney Gaskell, Lakeview Square Mall’s local leasing representative.

The mall is hoping for at least one wing mural, although depending on the submissions, it's possible they have more, Gaskell said.

Potential locations include spaces near Zales and near Bath & Body Works. The plan is for the mural or murals to be inside, protected from the weather.

The mall already has a few submissions, according to Gaskell.

The idea came about from seeing the success of similar projects in other communities.

Lansing recently got its own set of wings as part of ARTpath, an outdoor art exhibit with art showcased on bridge underpasses and other public space along a section of the Grand River.

"The wings to me represent many things in my mural," said Tea Brown, the artist who painted a wings mural as part of ARTpath. "More so the empowerment of one's soul to break free from the mold that society tries to create for us and to find our own calling... To not be afraid to go after your dreams and not be afraid to fall, because you can always get back up, even if your wings have been torn or hurt, much like the heart, because only when we quit do we fail."

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Lansing muralist Tea Brown said her artwork under the Shiawassee Street bridge is meant to inspire hope.
Judy Putnam, Lansing State Journal

Brown was actually considering participating in this year's Color the Creek and doing a wing mural, she said.

To have art go up in a shopping mall "when typically they're more corporate sterile spaces, I think that's very cool to see," said Justin Andert, the organizer of Color the Creek. "It could be unique for Battle Creek."

Anyone interested in the project at Lakeview Square Mall should submit a full color rendering of the wings design along with the artist name, email, phone number and website if applicable.

The submission should be made to Gaskell at brittney@lakeviewsquare.com by Aug. 10. After the selections have been made, the project must be completed in under 2 weeks.

Contact reporter Natasha Blakely at (269) 223-0114 or nblakely@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter at @blakelynat.